French word

pouce

Pronunciation

IPA/pus/

Meaning

  • masculine nounthumb

Example

Lève ton pouce si tu es d'accord.

Raise your thumb if you agree.

Illustration for pouce (thumb)

More examples

Appuie avec ton pouce pour confirmer.

Press with your thumb to confirm.

Core concept

A powerful little finger faces the other fingers, making a firm pinch and precise handling possible.

Common phrases

  • pouce en l'air

    thumbs up

  • appuyer avec le pouce

    press with your thumb

  • mesurer en pouce

    measure in inches

Similar words

doigt: An elongated finger or toe used to touch objects and receive sensations.
index: The hand's index finger, mainly used for pointing or pressing.
majeur: The longer central finger of the hand, often used to apply pressure.
annulaire: The ring finger, commonly used for wearing a ring.

Definition in French

Doigt opposable situé à l'extrémité de la main, plus court et plus massif que les autres doigts, utilisé pour saisir et manipuler finement.

Word origin

Pouce is an inherited French word from Latin pollex, rather than a later technical borrowing.

Usage tips

  • Pouce can also mean an inch as a unit of length, so context distinguishes the body part from the measurement.

Other meanings

  • inchnoun

Word lists with this word